Glenville adventure park OK'd over some neighbors' opposition

Town approves treetop venture as neighbors weigh next move

Published 8:17 pm, Wednesday, August 12, 2015

In a nearly yearlong battle that has divided rural West Glenville residents, Michael Cellini said he never doubted he would be able to build a treetop obstacle course on his 50-acre property.

On Monday, he cleared the last major hurdle when the town Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved with conditions the final site plan for Mountain Ridge Adventure on Weatherwax Road.

The conditions require Cellini to do a survey of his land and redesign the parking lot.

"I knew I had done everything possible. I understand where my neighbors are coming from. .... I had the law on my side; I'm zoned for this," said Cellini, a married father of two sons. "If this course was the mass chaos that they say it is, why would I put it in my back yard where I live?"

Some of those neighbors, include Stephen Helbling, who lives next door, are not giving up their fight to preserve what they see as an erosion of their rural community.

Heibling said town planning and zoning officials should have withheld their decision until the property survey is done and parking problems resolved.

"It just seems too premature when so many things need to be addressed," Helbling said. "How you approve a site plan that is not accurate is beyond us."

The group adopted the slogan "Keep it rural; no adventure parks" and hired attorney Andy Brick to represent them.

"We're still in the process of evaluating all our options, and everything is still on the table," Brick said. "My clients have demonstrated this will degrade the environment as well as the quality of life in West Glenville. Unfortunately, the town didn't listen."

Cellini previously estimated the facility, which would occupy three acres of his property, would attract on average 100 patrons a day, traffic and noise would not increase and about 30 parking spaces would be needed.

Cellini said treetop obstacle courses build confidence, provide an outlet to exercise while enjoying fresh air and experiencing nature from 50 feet above the ground. He plans to start construction in September, open in the fall and hold the official opening in April.